Cardinal
Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R.,
Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly for
Syro-Malabars (India), was born on 29 May 1927 in Parur,
India. He was ordained for the Redemptorists on
12 June 1954 and holds a doctorate in canon law
from the Pontifical University of St Thomas
Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome.

For 25 years he taught
canon law at the Redemptorists' major seminary
in Bangalore. He also served as Provincial for
India and Sri Lanka (1978-84), President of the
Conference of Religious, India (1984-85) and
Apostolic Administrator of the Asirvanam
Benedictine Monastery in Bangalore (1990-96).

On 11 November 1996 he
was appointed titular Archbishop of Acrida (since 19 April 1997,
of Antinoe) and
Apostolic Administrator of the vacant see of
Ernakulam-Angamaly for Syro-Malabars, receiving
episcopal ordination from the Holy Father on 6
January 1997.

On 18 December 1999 he
was appointed Major Archbishop of
Ernakulam-Angamaly for Syro-Malabars.

He was President
of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), February 2008
- February 2010.

He was also President of the Synod
of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Created and proclaimed
Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 21
February 2001, of the Title of S. Bernardo alle Terme (St. Bernard at the
Baths).